[SE] on a winning streak

'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made

Liam laughed, feeling lighter than he had in quite some time. Was this what it was like to have friends? How had he forgotten? Why had he thought that sequestering himself away from the world would be helpful in the slightest? Perhaps he had simply been hurting too much to think clearly, but in retrospect it seemed like a mistake.

The ex-soldier sliced off a piece of bread and slathered jam on it, then took a bite. He shook his head at Maea’s question. ”Actually, no,” he said honestly. ”I just thought it might be nice. I’m not usually out in the forest all day, so I eat at home most days.” This was certainly the exception to the rule.

Maea was going to be disappointed when she learned that he didn’t really do anything of note. ”To be honest, I haven’t done much. I work security sometimes if the Fae have some kind of big event that they think might get out of hand, but…” He shrugged. Even those jobs were few and far between. The Fae didn’t tend to like to hire outside their own, though they’d learned to tolerate him over the past few years. ”After I moved out here, it felt like time just kind of stopped. It’s easy to lose track of what’s going on, especially with how secluded the Greatwood has gotten. After Phoebe disappeared, it all just sort of fell apart. Until now, that is.”

But oh, my love, don't forget me
When I let the water take me

Liam

MAEA

Rolling a slice of cheese around a grape before popping it into her mouth, Maea hummed contentedly at the way flavors mingled on her tongue. "It is," she assured, with a happy little wiggle. "It's the best meal I've had in days." All the more credit to him if it wasn't habit that brought this on. It was a nice thought and one she appreciated very much, not only because of the extra time it afforded them that could be spent on the search. Her own stretches of hermit life had showed her how far one could go on the bare necessities, to the point where a simple lunch basket became a luxury. To sit in the sunlight on a beautiful day and share a meal with someone else was another brand of the same, something she'd cast aside as unnecessary and slightly out of reach.

Far from disappointed, if anything his simple way of life only roused her interest further. "It sounds very peaceful, though," Maea pointed out. "While the sudden invasion of the void can't have been fun to deal with, it seems to me that you've been doing well for yourself." Looking at him, he was healthy, in good shape and had an optimism about him that felt refreshing after so many years of seeing only weary, worried faces. Maea hoped he would be able to retain that light as the year progressed, because it was something they all needed. "Is it hard to get by, without work? I hear Deepfrost gets as rough here as in the Grounds." While certainly possible to eke a living off hunting, foraging and doing odd jobs, she knew it wasn't an easy lifestyle, nor one that suited everyone.

I see a new horizon, holding on to hope
Say goodbye to all my pain when it's time for me to go

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made

Liam raised a brow at that, but there was no judgment on his face, only understanding. She was on a mission, and she was focused on that to the exclusion of all else. What were a few weeks or months of living off scraps if it meant the chance to create a new place where she could belong? Liam could understand that. ”My door’s always open,” he said simply. ”I’m no master chef, but I usually have fresh produce on hand, at least.”

He nabbed a piece of cheese, breaking off a bite-sized piece and popping it into his mouth. It had always fascinated him that fruit and cheese could make such a pleasant combination, and this was no exception. The jam he’d brought truly was some of the best in Caido, made by the Fae from berries found deep within the Greatwood. ”The Void did complicate things,” he agreed. ”I like to be outdoors, but for a while we had to stay in the village. Things were too dangerous out here.” And he hadn’t known what to do to stop it, relying on others to do the hard work for him. That stopped now.

”Winters are challenging, in their way. I had money from when I lived in Stormbreak, and working security brings some in. I’ve been frugal, and it’s lasted.” He didn’t share that it would one day run out; he’d been spending more than he brought in for long enough that he was starting to feel the strain. He’d have to find something to do, and soon. ”But I hunt for what I can, and there’s a decent trade for pelts. Lots of dried meat in the winter, though,” he admitted with a laugh. ”Still, there’s something… special about the Greatwood in Deepfrost. It all goes quiet and soft, and the snow - it’s just prettier than anything I ever saw in Stormbreak.”

But oh, my love, don't forget me
When I let the water take me

Liam

MAEA

Taken aback by the simple offer, she suddenly wasn't sure what to answer. 'Sure, I'll drop by'? 'No need, I can take care of myself'? Neither sat well on the tongue. Liam probably didn't mean anything more by it than just that, to share a meal once in a while, and she was absolutely too guarded when it came to sharing personal space with people. It wasn't fraught with meaning and nothing to get emotional about, but even so she was suddenly swallowing back a lump in her throat, cheeks flushing slightly as sappy warmth bloomed in her chest. Bending her head over a slice of bread slathered with jam so he wouldn't notice, Maea murmured a quiet "Thanks," and hoped that anything unsettled in her voice would be written off as nothing. It was nothing. She was just being silly.

Fortunately Liam was busy answering her question anyway. Washing down her food with a sip of water and reaching across their simple picnic to break off a string of grapes, his recounting of economic struggles was mundane enough, safely ordinary enough that soon she didn't have to pretend to be alright.
"Winter was my favorite season as I grew up," she admitted, the smile a little lopsided. "It was always rough, and LongNight was a nightmare, but I liked the snow. Still do. It's just difficult these days. This body is better adapted to heat - if it gets too cold I literally turn to stone." Rolling her eyes skyward, she tried not to think about the many, many close calls she'd had the first winter as an ancient.
"If you want to do some hunting or such while we're out here, we can," she added, thinking of what the past winter must have done to his stores - and funds. "If I'm going to eat your food, I should at least help fill the larder."

I see a new horizon, holding on to hope
Say goodbye to all my pain when it's time for me to go

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made

Maea’s quiet thanks was accepted with a silence not born of discomfort, but of acceptance. From what little she had told him, he’d already surmised that perhaps she didn’t have people to make her feel welcome and looked after. He wouldn’t press her. He would simply be here, should she decide to take him up on his offer.

He moved on to discussions about more mundane things, and soon Maea had returned to her usual self. ”Spring’s my favorite, I think. All seasons have their charms, but there’s something about new growth that can’t be found outside of Flowerbirth,” he said conversationally before taking another sip of water. The news that she could literally turn to stone, though, gave him pause. So the other day, when she’d nearly fallen into the river - she could have actually turned to stone? The Stone Symphony was certainly still frigid this early in the season, and knowing that… it made him all the more glad he’d been with her that day. ”So… that’s why Torchline, then.” It made sense, suddenly, why she was determined to make her home somewhere warm.

As for hunting, he nodded. ”Sure, we can. Don’t feel like we have to, though; I can make do, and I don’t want to distract you.” It might be challenging to track and hunt while also keeping an eye out for roses. If they were on a casual search, perhaps it would be different, but with so much hanging in the balance, Liam didn’t want to detract from Maea’s quest.

But oh, my love, don't forget me
When I let the water take me

Liam

MAEA

As spring was in full throw around them this very minute, he would be thriving now, then. To her, Flowerbirth was associated with mud and cleanups and planting season, the hectic time of year where there wasn't enough hours in the day for everything that needed to be done on a farm. Though it had been years since she sold her childhood home and changed career, Maea always got a restless ache in her hands when the sun returned each year, and a sense of guilt would come over her whenever she caught herself idling the day away. That mindset was useful now, given what was at stake, as long as she was reminded to rest on occasion. Like just now.

"Yeah, that's why. This past winter I spent most of the time in the Climb; it was very nice and toasty. Lots of predators around though, so it's not exactly a relaxing place."
Brushing some crumbs off her shirt and adjusting her seat so that the tail wouldn't go numb, Maea nodded her acceptance of his reservations when it came to hunting. "I'll need to hunt eventually anyway. Given the abundance of the Greatwood it shouldn't take long, so it's no trouble." And perhaps with company, she would be too distracted to torment herself over the coming surge of bloodlust. Still some weeks off, it was more important now that she paid attention to it, so that she wouldn't hurt him by accident.

I see a new horizon, holding on to hope
Say goodbye to all my pain when it's time for me to go

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made

Liam had never been to the Climb, though he’d learned his fair share of Cairo’s geography from his time in the Dragoons. Sometimes he missed those days: the structure, the discipline, the camaraderie. It hadn’t been easy in many ways, but it had been simple. Life here was straightforward, but it was missing so much of his old life that it was often hard to believe he was the same person.

Sometimes he wondered where he would be if he hadn’t left Stormbreak. If he’d stuck it out and pressed on through his grief, ignored the ghosts that haunted him at every turn. Would be still be a Dragoon? Would he be under the influence of the Family, duty-bound - or worse - to do their bidding?

He turned his attention back to their conversation, banishing thoughts of what might have been in favor of what was. He’d moved here, and though he didn’t consider himself thriving, he was at least doing fairly well for himself. And perhaps it had all been for a reason. Being here had saved Maea’s life, at least, and that was something that he could count as a worthwhile reason, indeed.

”Alright,” he said. ”Tomorrow, I’ll bring a bow along. I know a few spots we haven’t searched yet that are usually good for game.” He paused, tilting his head. ”I don’t think I’ve seen you with a weapon. Do you hunt with them, or do you have other means?” Magic or shifts, primarily. Better to know ahead of time so that he didn’t accidentally hurt her in his more traditional methods of hunting. If she was going to be stalking in the brush, he needed to know what to watch for.

But oh, my love, don't forget me
When I let the water take me

Liam

Maea

What you're given, what you live in
Darling, it finds a way to live in you

Maea didn't know it, but the slow smile that touched her lips as Liam agreed to hunt was quite sharp, and ever so slightly hungry. Even if she was telling herself that any anticipation stemmed entirely from the chance to explore a new area, the truth was perhaps a bit more complicated.
"I have a pair of throwing discs for combat," she replied, "and for the hunt I will use a shift." About to tell him about it, a sudden impulse had her scooting back from both Liam and the food instead.

With enough space to prevent accidents, the slender young woman stretched herself out on the ground, and shifted. Unlike with the crow, she grew rather than shrank. A rush of superheated air displaced by her change of mass sent dust and dried grass skittering along the ground, and as the Molten Tiger turned its head to gaze at the former dragoon, liquid metal slowly oozed from the blued-steel stripes. As pale as ever, Maea glowed even without the help of sunlight; glowed with heat, and with the ever present feline smugness that all cats regardless of form seemed to possess.

She did not think he would have any trouble telling her apart from any prey they might come across. If anything, she would have to make sure not to confuse his tracks for some other fragrant, tasty looking treat.

And your heart, love, has such darkness
I feel it in the corners of the room

'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made

Liam was about to ask what kind of shifts she had when Maea scooted back, away from him and from the food. Brows knit in confusion, he watched as she began to shift. As her form settled into something large, warm, and decidedly feline, his eyes widened. Even knowing that it was Maea and having faith that she wouldn’t hurt him, it was a challenge to sit idly by a molten tiger without flinching. But even more than the sudden rush of adrenaline was the surge of awe that he felt. He’d initially thought Maea petite, even fragile, and though she’d proven him wrong on both counts by now, this was the ultimate proof.

He’d never seen anything quite like her, and he wasn’t sure what to make of that.

Beautiful, he thought, admiring the way the sunlight struck her ivory fur, creating a sort of halo around her. Realizing that he was staring, he cleared his throat and looked back towards the food, trying for an air of nonchalance. ”Got any other surprises up your sleeve?” he asked with a rueful grin, quirking a brow at her curiously.

But oh, my love, don't forget me
When I let the water take me

Liam

Maea

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved

Watching Liam closely for his reaction, he did not disappoint. Was it silly to enjoy the succession of shock and awe across his face? Maybe. It was a rare thing that she had anyone around to impress, and rarer still to actually want to impress at all.
Tigers didn't really smile, but the slow blink and yawn - displaying an impressive set of teeth along with a serrated tongue rough enough to lick meat off of bone - was a close thing. Casually licking her chops, Maea shifted slightly to clean the fur between toe pads on a front paw, quite willing to let herself be admired for as long as he wished.

When Liam spoke again, she paused and gazed thoughtfully at him. Did she really want to show him all her tricks? He knew of the crow, swift and agile, mischievous and free. He'd now seen the tiger, the hunger and unapologetic force underlying her whole personality. Perhaps shifts were only forms, but Maea had found that they spoke of who she was in very direct ways. It said something that the tiger had been her first form, that it mirrored the jaguar she'd lost, that there was something feline and clawed at the center of her being. It wouldn't be difficult to leave it at that, and keep everything else hidden.
But... where was the fun in that? Here was an excellent audience, and she had his undivided attention. Perhaps it could not hurt... to let this person know that there was more to her, more to a homeless vagrant of a strange race than the potential for violence?

Yes. She found that she did want him to understand that. 

Maea shifted again. Shimmering as her form altered, this time it did shrink, if only by a bit. Resting on the ground amidst smoldering puddles of half melted steel, unbothered by the heat, lay a feirwe doe. The coat was white as snow, and she wore a rack of antlers that burned with blueish flame. Similar to a luxere in appearance, if he'd ever seen one of those, or perhaps not so far removed from a reindeer; regardless, this body certainly looked delicate compared to the tiger. Slender, graceful, with soft eyes as lavender in hue as they had been in her ancient form; this time it was only her horns that burned, and so she dared to extend her neck to nuzzle Liam's sleeve with a velvety nose. He looked somehow different through these eyes, though she could not quite pinpoint why. It was not bad, though. Never bad.

In secret, between the shadow and the soul

'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made

Liam watched as Maea the tigress yawned, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth. Gods, but her mouth was as big as his head in this form. She should be intimidating, but she wasn’t. Not to him. He was simply awed. Something about her intense gaze felt like she could see right through him, like all his secrets were laid bare.

When she shifted again, he was taken aback by the form she took. He’d seen enough of Maea to understand that she wasn’t as vulnerable as she first appeared, and yet here was this beautiful fierwe doe. Bright, calm, innocent, she gazed at him for a moment before reaching out to nuzzle his arm. Swallowing hard, he lifted a hand as if to stroke her, but then thought better of it. He wasn’t sure what manners were associated with those who could shift, and he didn’t want to offend Maea.

Instead, he gazed steadily into lavender eyes, unsure what to say, but somehow feeling privileged to have been given the opportunity to see her various forms. ”Thank you for showing me,” he said finally, his voice soft. Even that didn’t seem to fully encompass how he felt, but it was the best he had to offer.

But oh, my love, don't forget me
When I let the water take me

Liam

MAEA

The doe did not flinch at the movement of his hand. Her eyes remained calm, open and trusting that this hunter would not do her any harm. When his palm hesitated without connecting with her pale hide, a gentle sigh breathed a trickle of air his way, before Maea shifted back into her Ancient form.

Rising to her feet, she busied herself with brushing ash and embers off her clothes. "I thought it would be quicker to just show you," she murmured, as if she hadn't been enjoying herself royally. Only, the effect on the dragoon wasn't what she had expected. The softness of his tone left her feeling a touch embarrassed, for showing off and for... mixing up practicality with sentiment that shouldn't even be there.

Shifting to find another spot to sit, as her earlier one still smoldered and snapped under cooling metals the tiger had shed, Maea picked up her grapes and popped a purple globule into her mouth. Why did she keep getting thrown off, lately? Truths she'd thought carved in bedrock kept being upended, plans thrown off course, habits forced to adjustment... It was most disconcerting.

I see a new horizon, holding on to hope
Say goodbye to all my pain when it's time for me to go

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made

Maea was an Ancient again before he could blink, and the spell was broken. Liam reached for his water flask and drained it. ”More effective, too,” he said lightly. ”If it wasn’t evident before not to mess with you, it is now.” There was, after all, something about hearing about a shift and seeing it up close and personal. Despite his limited experience with Attuned, he’d never seen anything like Maea, though. He wondered if the forms she took were chosen or granted, and if they reflected anything about her personally. What might each say about her, if he got to know her?

The silence between them stretched as they ate, the spot where Maea had shifted still smoldering in the Flowerbirth sun. After a few minutes, Liam spoke again. ”Do you have a favorite shift?” he asked curiously. Of the three he knew about (and who’s to say there weren’t more that she hadn’t shared?), was there one that stood out to Maea? Or did they all have their merits, serve their own purpose?

But oh, my love, don't forget me
When I let the water take me

Liam

MAEA

Her mouth quirked, somewhere between amused and flattered by Liam's comment. Maybe it was because she had always been small, and short, the younger sibling or the sick friend, the last in a line, that it was especially nice to hear any expression of respect whether it was earned or not. While she didn't want to be feared, by any means, at least she wouldn't be looked down on, or be protected against things she was perfectly capable of dealing with on her own. Maybe she shouldn't have to, maybe she didn't always need to - but damn if anyone ever insinuated that she couldn't.

Relaxing into the quiet while they are, Maea was finishing up her last sandwich and chewed as she thought about the question. All her shifts had their merits, all were aspects of who she was, but if she could keep only one... "Hm, probably the gore crow," she responded, after swallowing. "I wouldn't want to give up flying. I used to be so afraid of finding myself stuck in a place - any place - without a way of leaving. Since I discovered the crow in me, that's not as bad anymore." She smiled at Liam, recalling his own desire for wings. He would understand being grounded, and the longing for the vastness of the sky. 
"Which one was your favorite?" He'd seen them all now, and she was curious to hear if any guise had left a particular impression.

I see a new horizon, holding on to hope
Say goodbye to all my pain when it's time for me to go

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3